3‐Germyl‐3,3‐di­methyl­propionic acid derivatives

The crystal structures of 3,3‐di­methyl‐3‐(tri­chloro­germyl)­propionic acid, [Ge(C₅H₉O₂)Cl₃], 3,3‐di­methyl‐3‐(tri­phenyl­germyl)­propionic acid, [Ge(C₆H₅)₃(C₅H₉O₂)], and 3,3‐di­methyl‐3‐(tri‐p‐toly­lgermyl)­propionic acid, [Ge(C₇H₇)₃(C₅H₉O₂)], have slightly distorted tetrahedral geometries about the Ge atoms. All the structures form dimers via strong O—H·O hydrogen bonds, resulting in eight‐membered rings that can be best described in terms of graph‐set notation (8).     

1‐Chloro‐3,6‐di­methoxy‐2,5‐di­methyl­benzene and 1‐chloro‐3,6‐di­methoxy‐2,4‐di­methyl­benzene

The title compounds, 1‐chloro‐3,6‐di­methoxy‐2,5‐di­methyl­benzene, (IIIa), and 1‐­chloro‐3,6‐di­methoxy‐2,4‐di­methyl­benzene, (IIIb), both C₁₀H₁₃ClO₂, were obtained from 2,5‐ and 2,6‐di­methyl‐1,4‐benzo­quinone, respectively, and are intermediates in the synthesis of ammonium quinone derivatives. The isomers have different substituents around the methoxy groups and crystallize in different space groups. In both mol­ecules, the methoxy groups each have different orientations with respect to the benzene ring. In both cases, one methoxy group lies in the plane of the ring and can participate in conjugation with the aromatic system, while the second is almost perpendicular to the plane of the aromatic ring. The C—O—C bond angles around these substituents are also different: 117.5 (4) and 118.2 (3)° in (IIIa) and (IIIb), respectively, when the methoxy groups lie in the plane of the ring, and 114.7 (3) and 113.6 (3)° in (IIIa) and (IIIb), respectively, when they are out of the plane of the ring.     

Total Syntheses of (±)‐Fawcettimine, (±)‐Fawcettidine, (±)‐Lycoflexine,and (±)‐Lycoposerramine‐Q

The total syntheses of four fawcettimine‐related Lycopodium alkaloids, (±)‐fawcettimine, (±)‐fawcettidine, (±)‐lycoposerramine‐Q, and (±)‐lycoflexine, were completed in a highly stereoselective manner. The Pauson–Khand reaction of 4‐methylidene‐6‐siloxyoct‐1‐en‐7‐yne followed by regio‐ and stereoselective hydrogenation led to the short‐step preparation of the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonenone intermediate bearing a methyl group with the required stereochemistry. The subsequent chemical manipulation of the bicyclic compound afforded the 6‐5‐9‐membered tricyclic dioxo compound, which was then transformed into the four targeted alkaloids in an alternative and more efficient fashion.     

Lipase‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of 6(S)‐methyl‐morpholine‐2,5‐dione

Lipase‐catalyzed ring‐opening bulk polymerizations of 6(S)‐methyl‐morpholine‐2,5‐dione (MMD) were investigated. Selected commercial lipases were screened as catalysts for MMD polymerization at 100 °C. Polymerizations catalyzed with 10 wt % porcine pancreatic lipase type II crude (PPL), lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia, and lipase type VII from Candida rugosa resulted in MMD conversions of about 75% in 3 days and in molecular weights ranging from 8200 to 12,100. Poly(6‐methyl‐morpholine‐2,5‐dione) [poly(MMD)] had a carboxylic acid group at one end and a hydroxyl group at the other end. However, lipase from Mucor javanicus showed lower catalytic activity for the polymerization. During the polymerization, racemization of the lactate residue took place. PPL was selected for further studies. The rate of polymerization increased with increasing PPL concentration under otherwise identical conditions. When the PPL concentration was 5 or 10 wt % with respect to MMD, a conversion of about 70% was reached after 6 days or 1 day, respectively, whereas for a PPL concentration of 1 wt %, the conversion was less than 20% even after 6 days. High concentrations of PPL (10 wt %) resulted in high number‐average molecular weights (<3 days); with a lower concentration of PPL, lower molecular weight poly(MMD) was obtained. The concentration of water was an important factor that controlled not only the conversion but also the molecular weight. With increasing water content, enhanced polymerization rates were achieved, whereas the molecular weight of poly(MMD) decreased. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3030–3039, 2005     

A Bioinspired Synthesis of (±)‐Rubrobramide, (±)‐Flavipucine,and (±)‐Isoflavipucine

A biomimetic synthesis of naturally occurring lactams rubrobramide, flavipucine, and isoflavipucine is described. The key step is a regioselective Darzens reaction between isobutyl glyoxal and an α‐bromo‐β‐ketoamide. The construction of the core tricyclic ring system of rubrobramide was achieved by a cascade reaction in a single step from an α,β‐epoxy‐γ‐lactam. Furthermore, the absolute configuration of naturally occurring (+)‐rubrobramide was determined by vibrational circular dichroism. (±)‐Flavipucine and (±)‐isoflavipucine were synthesized from an epoxyimide, which was prepared by reaction of isobutyl glyoxal with a protected α‐bromo‐β‐ketoamide. Deprotection of the epoxyimide and formation of the pyridone ring gave (±)‐flavipucine, which was converted into (±)‐isoflavipucine by thermal isomerization.     

A Bioinspired Synthesis of (±)‐Rubrobramide, (±)‐Flavipucine,and (±)‐Isoflavipucine

A biomimetic synthesis of naturally occurring lactams rubrobramide, flavipucine, and isoflavipucine is described. The key step is a regioselective Darzens reaction between isobutyl glyoxal and an α‐bromo‐β‐ketoamide. The construction of the core tricyclic ring system of rubrobramide was achieved by a cascade reaction in a single step from an α,β‐epoxy‐γ‐lactam. Furthermore, the absolute configuration of naturally occurring (+)‐rubrobramide was determined by vibrational circular dichroism. (±)‐Flavipucine and (±)‐isoflavipucine were synthesized from an epoxyimide, which was prepared by reaction of isobutyl glyoxal with a protected α‐bromo‐β‐ketoamide. Deprotection of the epoxyimide and formation of the pyridone ring gave (±)‐flavipucine, which was converted into (±)‐isoflavipucine by thermal isomerization.     

Vicinal Dianion of Triethyl Ethanetricarboxylate: Syntheses of (±)‐Lichesterinic Acid, (±)‐Phaseolinic Acid, (±)‐Nephromopsinic Acid, (±)‐Rocellaric Acid,and (±)‐Dihydroprotolichesterinic Acid

The vicinal dianion 2 derived from triethyl ethanetricarboxylate reacted regioselectively with aldehydes and ketones at C(β) to provide paraconic acid derivatives 5a – f in moderate to high yields as mixtures of diastereoisomers. The paraconic acid derivatives 5e and 5f were utilized as the starting materials for the syntheses of (±)‐lichesterinic acid ( 12 ), (±)‐phaseolinic acid ( 13 ), (±)‐nephromopsinic acid ( 14 ), (±)‐rocellaric acid ( 15 ), and (±)‐dihydroprotolichesterinic acid ( 16 ).     

(±)‐Asarinin

Asarinin, C₂₀H₁₈O₆, was isolated as a racemate from the shrub Zanthoxylum alatum. Both forms of the enantiomerically pure substance, (+)‐ and (−)‐asarinin, have been the subject of a total of five previous structure determinations that are essentially identical except for the absolute stereochemistry. However, there seems to be some confusion in the literature concerning these structure determinations of asarinin and also those of its stereoisomer sesamin. The molecular structure of racemic asarinin differs from that of the pure enantiomers in the orientation of one ring system. In the packing of the racemate, molecules are linked by C—H...O interactions to form ribbons parallel to [101].     

Synthesis of Deuterium Labeled (±)‐2,5‐Dimethoxyamphetamine (DMA), (±)‐4‐Bromo‐2,5‐Dimethoxyamphetamine (DOB), and (±)‐4‐Methoxyamphetamine (PMA) as Internal Standards for Quantitative Analyses by GC‐MS

DMA, DOB and PMA are increasingly abused central nervous system stimulants with neurotoxic properties. In recent years, many controlled substance analogs (designer drugs) with a large variety of structures have reached the illegal market, making their identification difficult. Therefore, this work studies the synthesis of DOB‐d₆, DMA‐d₆ and PMA‐d₃ as internal standards for use in gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) to identify controlled substances.     

Total Synthesis of (±)‐Eusiderin G and (±)‐Eusiderin M

(±)‐Eusiderin G and (±)‐Eusiderin M were first synthesized from pyrogallol, in which the Claisen Rearrangement was used to afford two important C₆‐C₃ units.     

Facile Synthesis of (±)‐Parahigginone Methyl Ether and (±)‐Curcuphenol

Using Grinard coupling as a key step, a facile synthetic approach to (±)‐parahigginone methyl ether 1 and (±)‐curcuphenol 2 has been achieved by five steps with 42.3% and 58.6% overall yield, respectively.     

Chloro­bis­(di­methyl­amido)(η5‐2,5‐di­methyl­pyrrolyl)­titanium(IV), [Ti(NMe2)2(DMP)Cl]

The structure of the title compound, [Ti(C₂H₆N)₂(C₆H₈N)Cl], displays a η⁵‐coordination mode for the pyrrolyl ring, confirmed by the values of the slip parameter [0.073 (9) Å] and the fold angle [4.6 (6)°]. This coordination is confirmed by NMR data, which point to the involvement of the complex in a fluxional process in solution above 285 K, passing through an intermediate involving simultaneously a metal–aza­allyl and a metal–olefin bond.     

Total Synthesis of (-)-Kaerophyllin,(-)-Hinokinin and (±)-Isohinokinin

Kaerophyllin (1) ,hinokinin (2 )andtheiranalogue isohinokinin (3)belongtothedibenzylbutyrolactone lig nans .Kaerophyllin (1)wasisolatedfromtherootofspot tedcowparsley (ChaerophyllummaculatumWilld .) 1andhinokinin (2 )wasisolatedfromtheheartwoodofLiboce drusformosanaFlorin .2 AccordingtoMacRaeandTow ers ,3afivememberedlactoneringandamethylenedioxylgroupwereimportantstructuralcharacteristicswhichcon tributetotheactivityoflignansasantitumoragents .More over ,anunsaturateddoublebondbetweenC3—…     

4,5‐Bis­(ferrocenyl­methyl­thio)‐1,3‐di­thiol‐2‐one

In the compound 4,5‐bis­(ferrocenyl­methyl­thio)‐1,3‐di­thiol‐2‐one, [Fe₂(C₅H₅)₂(C₁₅H₁₂OS₄)], the values of the geometric parameters of the ferrocene and 1,3‐di­thiol‐2‐one (dmio) moieties are within normal ranges. The dmio group is essentially planar. There are no short S?S contacts.     

Bis[1,1‐di­methyl­biguanide(1–)‐κ2N2,N5]copper(II) monohydrate

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu(C₄H₁₀N₅)₂]·H₂O, contains two independent copper N,N‐di­methyl­biguanide complex units, each with square‐planar coordination of the Cu atom by four N atoms. The two complexes have different symmetry, with one Cu atom lying on an inversion centre and the other on a twofold rotation axis. The Cu—N bond lengths are 1.923 (2) and 1.950 (2) Å in the centrosymmetric complex, and 1.928 (2) and 1.938 (2) Å in the non‐centrosymmetric complex. The crystal structure is stabilized by N—H⋯O, O—H⋯N and N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds; each water mol­ecule forms four hydrogen bonds involving three different Cu complexes.     

Collective Total Syntheses of Atisane‐Type Diterpenes and Atisine‐Type Diterpenoid Alkaloids: (±)‐Spiramilactone B, (±)‐Spiraminol, (±)‐Dihydroajaconine,and (±)‐Spiramines C and D

The first total syntheses of the architecturally complex atisane‐type diterpenes and biogenetically related atisine‐type diterpenoid alkaloids (±)‐spiramilactone B, (±)‐spiraminol, (±)‐dihydroajaconine, and (±)‐spiramines C and D are reported. Highlights of the synthesis include a late‐stage biomimetic transformation of spiramilactone B, a facile formal lactone migration from the pentacyclic skeleton of spiramilactone E, a highly efficient and diastereoselective 1,7‐enyne cycloisomerization to construct the functionalized tetracyclic atisane skeleton, and a tandem retro‐Diels–Alder/intramolecular Diels–Alder sequence to achieve the tricyclo[6.2.2.0] ring system.     

Collective Total Syntheses of Atisane‐Type Diterpenes and Atisine‐Type Diterpenoid Alkaloids: (±)‐Spiramilactone B, (±)‐Spiraminol, (±)‐Dihydroajaconine,and (±)‐Spiramines C and D

The first total syntheses of the architecturally complex atisane‐type diterpenes and biogenetically related atisine‐type diterpenoid alkaloids (±)‐spiramilactone B, (±)‐spiraminol, (±)‐dihydroajaconine, and (±)‐spiramines C and D are reported. Highlights of the synthesis include a late‐stage biomimetic transformation of spiramilactone B, a facile formal lactone migration from the pentacyclic skeleton of spiramilactone E, a highly efficient and diastereoselective 1,7‐enyne cycloisomerization to construct the functionalized tetracyclic atisane skeleton, and a tandem retro‐Diels–Alder/intramolecular Diels–Alder sequence to achieve the tricyclo[6.2.2.0] ring system.     

(±)‐Methyl and (±)‐ethyl 4‐(2,3‐di­fluoro­phen­yl)‐2,6,6‐trimethyl‐5‐oxo‐1,4,5,6,7,8‐hexa­hydro­quinoline‐3‐carboxyl­ate

The title compounds, C₂₀H₂₁F₂NO₃ and C₂₁H₂₃F₂NO₃, respectively, belong to a class of 1,4‐dihydro­pyridines whose members sometimes display calcium modulatory properties. The 1,4‐dihydro­pyridine rings have the usual shallow boat conformation. In each structure, the 2,3‐difluoro­phenyl ring is oriented such that the fluoro substituents are in a synperi­planar orientation with respect to the 1,4‐dihydro­pyridine ring plane and the oxocyclo­hexene ring has a slightly distorted envelope conformation. Both structures exhibit the same inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen‐bonding motif, in which the mol­ecules are linked into chains by inter­actions involving the carbonyl O atom of the oxocyclo­hexene ring.